Art of generating power



Nov 2 1926. 1,605,773

C- G. RHOADES ART OF GENERATING POWER Filed August 31, 1922 2 Sheets-Shea"v l Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,773

C. G. RHOADES ART OF GENERATING POWER Filed August 31, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 \HH 1|) 6 w V 2 3/ 15a N 5/ /7 J0 24 Add Z 6 Fi IE [N 1 5 N TOR.

,7 m K TOPNEyJ Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED; STATES cnaanns e. Bnonnns, or vnnconvnn, wnsnme'ron.

ART OF GENERATING POWER.

Application filed August 81,1922. Serial No..585.418.

drive an engine of any usual reciprocatory or other type if preferre My invention comprehends apparatus comprising a series of chambers operatively separated one from another, but all com-- municating successively, and making, as a series, ultimate discharge of fluid into a single or multiple storage reservoir which constitutes the last chamber of the series.

In the present preferred form of embodiment of my invention, wherein an explosive gas is employed to generate power, the first of said series is a compression chamber having provision for'receiving and subjecting to compression therein an explosive fluid charge. The next in series is a firing chamber into which delivery is made of the charge from the first chamber, and where, being entrapped therein, it is fired and thereby exploded.

The storage chamber is the last of the series, whatever be the number of chambers that precede it in the series, and it receives and holds in confinement under pressure the ultimate product of the entire series, to wit, an expansible gas, whatever it be. It is the pressure only of the gas in the storage chamber which is utilized as a source of power, the explosibility of the gas being exhausted before reaching said chamber.

An example of the utilization of the force of the explosion of a gas is found in the well known internal combustion engine, in which the force of the explosion is utilized directly to drive the piston of an engine specially designed and adapted for the purpose.

A radical distinction between my invention and such a machine is that by my invention direct communicationbetween the engine and the exploded charge at the time of its explosion is eliminated, and, consequently, the necessity for the employment ofthat type of engine known as the internal combustion engine is removed. The result is to render possible the substitution for such an engine of one of the ordinary kind adapted for the use of steam with all the superior advantaes which the latter possesses over the ot er. In other words, my invention provides for the continuous generation for use of a gas that has the efficiency and availability of steam, for example, without the bulkine ss and weight of apparatus necessary to its effective generation.

What constitutes my invention will be hereinafter specified in detail and succinctly set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure I is a diagrammatic illustration of apparatus in one form of embodiment complete for carryin out my invention.

Figure Ill is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention.

Figure Jill is an end view of the device with parts in section.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates a metallic cylinder of suitable strength and dimensions to qualify it as a compression chamber for a gas. 1thin the cylinder reciprocates a piston 2 under impulse of such mechanism as is hereinafter specified.

The cylinder is closed at one end as by a crown 3, which is preferably made integral with the cylinder. An explosive charge is designed and adapted to be made preferably at regular intervals and continuously during the operation of the machine, as through a chargeintake 4 operatively disposed so asto communicate with the interior of the cylinder 1 near its upper end as determined by the crown 3.

To accommodate the cylinder to the intake of a gaseous char e, which is the method illustrated in the drawings, I prefer to provide in one side of the body of the cyllnder a tubular housing 5 which is preferably cast integrally with the cylinder and like it made of requisite strength and capacity for the work required of it. Within the housing 5 is secured, as by aid of a thimble 6 threaded into the housing 5, a drum 7,

provided at its outer end with a head 8 and at its opposite end with an eccentrically flared valve-seat 9. The housing 5 is shown as provided with an internal annular flange 10 which answers for a stop piece to limit the inthrust of the drum when it is driven by the thimble 6 into the housing 5. Fitto keep the valve 11 normally seated.

Communicating with the interior of the drum 7 is a charge-supply pipe indicated by the numeral 16 in Figure II of the'drawe ings. The pipe 16 may derive an explosive charge of gas from any suitable source, such for example as a manlfold, a means of such supply, well known in internal combustion en mes.

11 any suitable relative disposition to the cylinder 1, for example, opposite the housing 5, is provided a conduit or chamber 17 whose outer wall like the housing 5 is preferably cast integrally with the cylinder. 1 and its crown 3. Within the wall of the chamber 17 fits a drum 18 which has an opening on one side to the cylinder and which may be substantially a counterpart of the drum 7, already described. Sufiice it to say, in addition to the previous description of the drum 7, that it is provided with a valve 19, which opens outwardly from the cylinder 1 and which is provided with a valve-stem 20pmjecting through a suitably packed central aperture provided for it in a head 21 with which the drum 18 is provided. The valve 19 is kept normally but yieldingly urged against its seat 22 as by an expansive spring 23 coiled about the stem 20 and confined between the head of the drum 18 and a nut 24 threaded to the end of said stem, and respectively corresponding in function to the spring 15 and nut 14 already described.

In order to afford additional means for insuring confinement of gas under pressure within the drum 18, I prefer to substitute for the 'thimble 6 that holds the drum 7 in place a closed cap 26 that is preferably threaded, after the manner of the thimble 6, into the wall of the said chamber.

The chamber 17 opens through the valve- .controlled seat 22 into a firing chamber 28 which is preferably cast integrally with the cylinder 1 and the chamber 17, although such casting of the several members of my apparatus in one piece is only a structural detail, and, as such, is subject to-any suitable variation desired.

The firin chamber may be made of any suitable an desired capacity, and of requi- 32 a drum 33, corresponding in its own shape and in its functioning equipment with the drum 18 and its equipment already specified, whereof it is sufiicient to enumerate for separate identification an outwardly opening valve 34, valve-seat 35, valvestem 36, expansive spring 37, spring-confining nut 38, and cap-piece 39.

The firing chamber 28 discharges through the valve-seat into a duct 40 leading to a storage tank or reservoir 41, of ample capacity for the storage of power desired, and which it is deemed sufficient only to indicate diagrammatically in Figure I of the drawings.

The tank 41 is preferably provided with some suitable means for automatically re lieving pressure within it at a predetermined maximum, a safety exhaust valve 42, of any kind in general use for steam boilers, being a familiar example of the same.

For imparting regular reciprocatory impulses to the piston 2, a driven crank-shaft 45, whose crank 46 is-operatively. connected to the piston, as by a piston rod 47, 'may be employed. The shaft may be the main shaft or an auxiliary of any suitable type of engine 48, which ma be provided, and which is adapted to be riven by the gas in the tank 41-. So long as sufficient volume of gas in the tank is maintained at required pressure, such gas supply will afford a constant source of power.

With the engine 48 is also operatively connested, in any well known or suitable manner such as iscommon'to internal combustion engines, the spark-plug 30. Also, provision, if desired, may be made, by mechanism operatively connected with the engine 48, for restoring the interior of the firing chamber 28 to atmospheric pressure after each explosion of a charge Within the firing chamber.

A simple form of mechanism for this purpose preferably comprises a housing 50 in which is fitted and secured a drum 51. The said housing and drum are shown as being substantially identical with the housing 5 and drum 7 with parts appurtenant thereto, previously described, the drum being fitted site strength to acommodate for explosion with a valve 52, valve-stem 53, valve-actua charge within it, and to confine, during the moment of explosion, the gaseous products of such explosion.

A spark-plug 30 of any description well known in ,the art relating to internal combustion engines or any other that may be ating spring 54, and spring-confining nut on the outside end of the valve-stem. A port 56 communicates through the drum and housing with the outside atmosphere, so as to allow escape of excess fluid pressure the moment the valve 52 opens.

on the other side.

58 indicates a lever pivoted as indicated at 59 to any convenient portion of the casting whereof the walls of the chamber 28 form part, or to a suitable support thereon as shown. One end of the lever 58 is movably connected with the head of the valvestem 53, as by aid of a loose ball and socket joint 60, while the other end makes contact with a cam 61 that serves to hold the lever in operative connection between it and the head of the valve-stem 53. The cam is in effect a collar fixed to a rotative member driven by the engine 48, as, for example, the crank-shaft 45. The consequence and purpose is to effect at properly timed intervals, depending upon rotation of the shaft 45, a positive opening of the valve 52, with the result set forth in the description of the operation of my apparatus immediately following.

Assuming the apparatus to be at rest but in operative communication, as through the charge-intake 4, with a source of gas supply, such for example as gas and air commingled in suitable relative proportions to constitute an explosive compound, it is necessary, in order to start the machine, to give initial movement to the iston which may be done by imparting, as y hand, a turn or so to the crank-shaft 45.

The piston with each outward movement in the cylinder 1 sucks into the cylinder a charge of explosive fluid which enters through the intake 4. The force of the suction so created serves to open the valve 11 for ingress of the charge to the cylinder 1 in WhlCll it is entrapped by the closing of said valve under force of its sprin 15 upon completion of each out-stroke of t e piston. The succeeding reverse movement of the piston serves to compress the charge in the cylinder and eventually to drive it past the valve 19 into the firing chamber 28, in which the closin of said valve entraps and seals it. The closing of the valve 19 ensues immediately upon the reaching of the limit of its instroke by the piston 2. The action of the spring 23 insures promptitude of closure of the valve 19, but is aided by fluid pressure from within the firing chamber, owing to the large area of that side of the valve 19 that is towards the firing chamber as compared with the area of its other side.

After the charge of the explosive, compressed as in the manner described, enters the firing chamber it finds itself confined and sealed therein by the positive resistance of the valve 19 on one side, and the effective though yieldinrr resistance of the valve 34 It should be noted, in this connection, that the spring 37 which seats the valve 34 is a heavy one and of power sufiicient to resist its compression by such fluid pressure as the drive of the piston 2 may exert against the valve 34, but not sufiicient to resist the greater force generated by explosion of a charge within the chamber 28.

Consequently, after and while the explosive charge is entrapped, substantially, for example, in the manner just specified, Within the chamber 28, it becomes next in order to ignite the charge. The functioning of the spark-plug 30 is synchronized accordin ly.

Iflxplosion of successive charges occursat intervals, charge after charge, and effects accumulation in the tank 41 of the gaseous products of the combustion of the charges. Each explosion develops a high degree of fluid pressure in the chamber 28, with the effect of opening the valve 34 against the force of the controlling spring 37, and adding its quota to the volume .and pressure of the fluid stored in the tank 41. The volume of expansible fluid so confined in said tank affords a source of power equivalent in effect to the steam of a boiler, for example, for driving the engine 48.

Since the accretions of fluid supplied to the tank 41 are in some measure offset by the power taken therefrom, the gain of pressure therein is in proportion to the intake and the outgive of fluid, which depends partly on the capacity of the tank 41. In order, however, to meet all practical requirements I provide the exhaust or safety valve 42. Provision might also be made for interrupting the actuation of the piston 2 from time to time as pressure indicated in the tank 41 would dictate.

As the pressure rises in the tank 41, resistance to the opening of the valve 34 will increase, with the result thata gradually increasing residuum of spent gas will manifest itself in the firing chamber 28. The consequence would be to vitiate each fresh charge to some extent, and moreover to load the engine unnecessarily by ofierinlg resistance to the opening of the valve 19. t is for that 'reason that the use of the valve 52 is suggested, as a possible necessity in some cases, and at least as advantageous.

The heat developed in the firing chamber may be controlled in some measure by restricting the capacity of said chamber, but I contemplate the employment of any usual or preferred means known to the cognate arts for preventing excessive accumulation of heat. It should also be noted that while I have specified only three separate chambers, to wit, the cylinder 1, firing chamber 28, and storage tank 41, as essential elements of my apparatus, it is practicable to increase the number of separate chambers -with a view, for example, to effecting more complete isolation of one from another, or for compounding the storage capacity of the tank 41.

Furthermore, I desire to specify that the in the carrying out of my invention need not be of a gaseous nature. They may be, for example, of apulverulent or granular nature such as gunpowder for instance, in the employment of which it is obvious that the method of feedin charges to the firing chamber would vary i'Om that appropriate to the use of a gaseous char e. In any case, the charging of the firing c amber need not be a continuous operation, but may be made only as the lowering of fluid pressure in the tank 41 may from time to time demand, it being recognized, however, that a continuous and automatically efi'ected charging operation is desirable, particularly in dealing with gaseous charges as has been specified.

What I claim is:

In a device of the class described, the combination of a compression chamber, a charge supply pipe communicating with the chamber, a valve for controlling the supply to the chamber, a reciprocating piston in said chamher for introducing thereinto and compressing an explosive charge, a firing chamber above said compressing chamber and having a passage communicating therewith, a valve normally closing said passage, means for exploding successively charges introduced into said firing chamber from said compression chamber, a valve having a spring stiff enough to resist compression, a gas storage tank associated with said valve and operatively connected to said firing chamber to receive and confine under pressure the products of combustion driven into it by the force of the explosion of said charges as they occur, an engine driven from sald storage tank, a drive shaft operated by said engine and operatively connected to the piston in said compression chamber, said firin chamher having a tubular housing'provi ed with a port communicating with the atmosphere, a spring actuated valve normally closing the igniting chamber from said port, and means operatively connecting the spring valve with the drive shaft for restoring the interior of the firing chamber to atmospheric pressure at predetermined intervals.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand. a

y CHARLES sanoanns. 

